Best Greyhound Betting Sites in Ireland for 2023 – Free Bets and Bonuses

Greyhound races take place daily, with betting sites offering competitive odds and markets for these events. There are also major annual festivals in Ireland and the UK.

But how do you find a good greyhound betting site? We have done the research and found the best betting sites for greyhounds in Ireland. Below you will find the best bookmakers, strategies for greyhound betting, and much more to get you started. 

How we rank the best greyhound betting sites

It is important to test out bookmakers from time to time. This allows us to compare their greyhound betting experience against competitors. As betting enthusiasts, we know exactly what makes a good betting site. We have created a list of criteria customers should look for in a bookmaker. Not all betting sites will have the following features, but the top betting sites will meet most of the criteria. 

Race Meets	Betting sites post odds for greyhound races nearly every day. Races take place around the world and the best bookmakers will offer markets on a variety of events. Along with the big annual meets, punters want to wager on daily races. A bookmaker with comprehensive coverage is ideal.
Competitive Odds	It is a good idea to open a betting account with multiple bookmakers. This allows you to compare race odds and to select the best available. Bettors should select a greyhound bookmaker with competitive odds that are rarely beaten by competitors.
Promotions and Bonuses	The betting industry has a multitude of bookmakers. The competition in the industry is high. To attract more customers, most bookmakers offer promotions and bonuses. You should shop around to get the best deals available. Having multiple betting accounts with different betting sites ensures you receive more than one promotion.
Best Odds Guaranteed	Best odds guaranteed (BOG) isn’t found on all greyhound betting sites. Shop around to get BOG because it could land you more winnings. What is BOG? If you wager on a greyhound but the price of the greyhound is larger at the start of the race, then you will get the better odds if the dog wins.
Live Streaming	Live streaming enables bettors to watch the greyhound races if they place a wager on the event.
Accumulator insurance	Accumulator insurance isn’t provided by all bookmakers. It is a feature limited to a small number of betting sites. Accumulator insurance covers an acca in case one of your selections fails. Your stake will be returned in the form of a free bet.
In-run betting	In-run betting is provided by bookmakers during races. Punters can place a wager on a dog after a race begins. But be quick or the race will be over.

Best Greyhound Bookmakers in Ireland for 2023

Leading bookmakers in Ireland offer markets for daily and annual greyhound races. The best bookmakers will offer a variety of features for customers to enjoy. Greyhound racing is a traditional betting sport, but betting sites should offer modern-day features. The best will enhance the betting experience. Below you will find four of the best greyhound betting bookmakers. 

Bet365

Bet365 is arguably the best betting site in the world today – but who’s arguing? The Stoke-on-Trent-based betting site offers a wide range of greyhound racing markets on events throughout the year. Bettors can wager on daily races and the major festivals held annually. The betting site offers markets for greyhound races in Ireland, the UK, North America, Australia, and New Zealand. The bookmaker posts dog racing odds early and provides best odds guaranteed on UK races. Bet365 has a variety of promotions for new customers to enjoy across different sports. There are also offers for existing customers, including free bets and enhanced odds. Bet365 has plenty of great features to keep customers coming back for me. There are bet builders, in-play betting, live streaming, and cash out available from Bet365. The website and mobile app are perfect for anyone new to sports betting. Both are easy to navigate. 

Pros:

• BOG on UK races
• Live streaming platform featuring greyhounds
• Around-the-clock greyhound coverage
• Competitive prices posted early

Cons:

• Some race odds may be lower than rival betting sites

Coral

Coral starts new customers with a great welcome bonus featuring free bets. These free bets can increase a punter’s bankroll for greyhound betting. Coral doesn’t disappoint in betting odds on greyhound events. It offers very competitive betting odds and is rarely beaten by competitors. Bettors can place a wager on a greyhound race and sit back and watch it on the live-streaming platform. Viewers can watch the races by placing a minimum €1 bet on the event they want to watch. There are markets for races across Ireland and the UK. Punters will also find markets for races held further afield like Australia and the United States. The Coral website is well-designed and easy to follow. Coral has a long-standing reputation in the sports betting industry. It has been around since 1926. This means punters will feel safe and secure signing up to the website. 

Pros:

• Easy-to-use website and mobile app
• Competitive odds
• Great welcome bonus for new customers
• Strong selection of greyhound races

Cons:

• Lacks bonus features available from some bookmakers
• Needs more greyhound specific promotions

888sport

888sport is a leader in the sports betting industry and a top-rated betting site for greyhound racing. The website offers markets on daily greyhound events and annual meetings from around Ireland and the UK. There is an assortment of bet types, including ante-post and specials. Punters can also wager on virtual greyhound races. 888sport has a great live-streaming service, and customers can enjoy watching the dogs race via the platform. Bettors must place a wager on a greyhound race to activate the live stream. One of the best aspects of the 888sport site and mobile app is the in-running section. This is essentially the in-play betting feature. You can wager on the dogs as they scamper around the racetrack chasing the hare. The 888sport promotions are perfect for customers seeking free bets or enhanced odds. There is also cash out on several greyhound betting markets.

Pros:

• In-running betting and cash out on most greyhound markets
• Strong selection of welcome offers and promotions
• Markets on daily and annual races.

Cons:

• No BOG
• Limited number of special bets

Boylesports

Irish bookmaker Boylesports is a long-running bookmaker in the greyhound sector. The betting site offers a variety of markets and odds for races in Ireland and the UK. Greyhound racing, along with horse racing and football, has long been one of Boylesports’ most popular offerings. Customers have a range of new customer offers to select from. Punters will have BOG on all dog races. There is also accumulator insurance on all sports across Boylesports’ website. Accumulator insurance isn’t often provided by leading bookmakers, which makes Boylesports a special betting site. The website is easy to use, especially for new sports punters. There are multiple banking methods available, allowing customers to deposit and withdraw money in their preferred way. 

Pros:

• Long-running bookmaker with high-street shops, top-rated website, and mobile app
• Welcome offers and bonus are brilliant
• Excellent greyhound markets and odds

Cons:

• Customer support could be upgraded
• Withdrawal processing could be faster

Greyhound betting markets

Punters have multiple ways to wager on greyhound races. The different bet types and betting markets can make certain wagers more profitable than others. The best greyhound betting sites for Ireland will have multiple ways to bet on the dogs. Below are the most popular ways to wager on greyhound races.

Betting market	How it works
To Win	The to win bet is the easiest of them all. Simply place a wager on the dog you believe will win the race. If your selection comes first, then your bet wins. When placing a win bet, you can either select the odds given by the bookmaker or the starting price (SP) odds.
Each way	An each-way bet provides some insurance to your greyhound wager. An each-way bet is basically two bets. You are betting on a greyhound to win or to place. Half of the bet goes on the greyhound to win and the other half on the greyhound to place. If your selection wins, you will make a profit off both bets. If the greyhound places, then you will receive a payout. It may be enough to cover your initial stake or more. Most betting sites payout for the first two places in a six-dog race.
To Place	Some betting sites will allow punters to bet on a greyhound to finish in the top two places (place). There are some betting sites that offer the top three places. The odds for a greyhound to place are smaller than on a to win bet.
Forecast	A forecast can land a punter a nice payout. However, a forecast is a tricky bet to pull off. A forecast bet is a wager on first two dogs over the line. If you can pick the first two dogs to finish in the correct order, then the bet wins.
Reverse forecast	A reverse forecast is like a regular forecast bet. However, the dogs can finish in any order.
Tricast	Some bookmakers will offer a tricast bet on greyhounds. The tricast is a wager on the first three dogs to finish a race in the correct order.
Reverse tricast	This is a wager on the first three dogs to finish a race but in any order.
Accumulator	Accumulators are popular bets across all sports. An acca is a multi-bet featuring different selections. You can build a greyhound accumulator featuring to win bets from different races. An accumulator does involve risk, as the more selections you add to the bet, the more difficult it is to win.

Popular greyhound events in Ireland and UK

Ireland and the UK love their greyhound racing. The two countries host some of the biggest greyhound racing events throughout the year. Racetracks in Ireland and the UK hold races daily. These races attract punters of all shapes and sizes. Greyhound enthusiasts can go out to the tracks to watch live or stream the daily races on their favourite betting sites. 

While the daily events are great and perfect for bettors to enjoy, the real treat in greyhound racing is the large annual greyhound festivals. These yearly events attract the creme of the crop in the dog racing world. Punters will see some of the best greyhound races at these events. Along with the top dogs in the sport in Ireland and the UK, fans will see the best trainers and owners on hand.

• English Greyhound Derby

The English Greyhound Derby is the largest race in the UK. The derby is held annually at Towcester Racecourse, around two and a half hours from London. The English Greyhound Derby occurs in June or July. The race started in 1927. Today, it is one of the world’s oldest greyhound races.

• Scottish Greyhound Derby

The Scottish Greyhound Derby was run every April. The derby began in 1928 and was held at Shawfield Stadium in South Lanarkshire. The Scottish Derby was the lead-up to the English Greyhound Derby and showcased many of the dogs that would run in Towcester. Unfortunately, the event was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic and is yet to start up again.

• Irish Greyhound Derby

The Irish Greyhound Derby is Ireland’s top dog racing event. The derby is held at Shelbourne Park in south Dublin. It has been run at Shelbourne Park since 1986. The 550-yard race officially started in 1932. The Irish Greyhound Derby is considered one of the two biggest events in Ireland and the UK. Only the English Greyhound Derby rivals the Irish version. The derby final takes place in September.

• Greyhound Grand National

The Greyhound Grand National is held in Bexley at Crayford Stadium. It shifted to the venue in 2022 after being held at Central Park for nearly 10 years. The Grand National is a 380-metre hurdle race. The move to Crayford Stadium reduced the distance the dogs run from 480 metres. The unique aspect of the Grand National is the hurdles. Not many greyhound races feature hurdles for the dogs to leap over. The final of the Grand National typically takes place in October after three prelim rounds.

• Three Steps to Victory

Three Steps to Victory is a newer greyhound race on the calendar. It started in 2003, with Tucks Mein winning the inaugural event. The event is held at Sheffield Stadium and features three different race distances. The greyhounds will race distances of 480 metres, 500 metres, and 660 metres. Three Steps to Victory has proven very popular amongst fans.

• Melbourne Cup

Okay, the Melbourne Cup isn’t held in Ireland or the UK, but it is definitely worth a mention. Don’t confuse the Greyhound Melbourne Cup with the horse-racing Melbourne Cup. Yes, both are extremely prestigious, but they are different races entirely. The Melbourne Cup started in 1956 and has attracted fans ever since. The event has a prize purse of an incredible $1 million and caps off the Superdogs Series. The cup is contested at Sandown Park in Melbourne. 

Popular greyhound racetracks in Ireland and the UK

Ireland and the UK have a variety of greyhound racetracks across both countries. Unfortunately, some of the older greyhound racetracks across the two nations have folded. For example, Manchester’s famous Belle Vue Stadium closed in 2020. The loss of the venue brought an end to greyhound racing in Manchester, one of the sport’s best cities.

According to the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, there are 20 licensed greyhound racetracks in the UK. The numbers unfortunately continue to fall across the country. Meanwhile, Ireland has 16 official venues licensed by the Irish Greyhound Board. Due to various reasons, both countries could see fewer greyhound racetracks in the future.

• Greyhound racecourses in the UK

Brighton and Hove Stadium	Brighton and Hove
Central Park	Sittingbourne
Crayford Greyhound Track	Crayford
Doncaster Stadium	Doncaster
Harlow Stadium	Harlow
Henlow Stadium	Henlow
Kinsley Stadium	Kinsley
Monmore Green Stadium	Wolverhampton
Newcastle Greyhound Stadium	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Nottingham Stadium	Nottingham
Oxford Stadium	Oxford
Pelaw Grange	County Durham
Perry Barr	Birmingham
Romford Greyhound Stadium	Romford
Owlerton Stadium	Sheffield
Suffolk Downs	Suffolk
Sunderland Greyhound Stadium	Sunderland
The Abbey	Swindon
Towcester Racecourse	Northamptonshire
Yarmouth Stadium	Great Yarmouth

• Greyhound racecourses in Ireland

Shelbourne Park	Dublin
Curraheen Park	Cork
Limerick Greyhound Stadium	Limerick
Kingdom Greyhound Stadium	Tralee
Galway Greyhound Stadium	Galway
Mullingar Greyhound Stadium	Westmeath
Kilcohan Greyhound Stadium	Waterford
Newbridge Greyhound Stadium	County Kildare
Youghal Greyhound Stadium	County Cork
Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium	Kilkenny
Clonmel	Tipperary
Dundalk Greyhound Stadium	Dundalk
Enniscorthy	Wexford
Thurles	County Tipperary

Strategies for betting on the greyhounds

There are a few strategies and tips to employ to pick a race winner. Greyhound racing may be a little more difficult to follow than sports like football, basketball, or even horse racing. Why? The coverage of the sport isn’t as necessarily as comprehensive. But if you are serious about your greyhound racing and betting, then you will know where to gain up-to-date information. Here are some of the strategies to use for picking a greyhound winner. 

• Racing Form

Greyhound racing form is an important part of picking a dog for a race. A greyhound that is performing well stands a strong chance of winning an upcoming event. Greyhounds struggling to stay with the pack and win races are unlikely to pick up an upset win. Winning form shows that a greyhound is running well. The more race wins over time, the stronger the proof is that the greyhound is at the top of their game. A racing form card will should a greyhound’s recent performances. Punters should study the form card before placing a wager on a greyhound race.

• Research the Markets

The to-win market is the easiest to predict. You are merely selecting the greyhound you believe will win the race. However, once you gain experience with greyhound betting, you can expand your bet types. Researching the markets will help you find value in different areas. Most of the time, the to-win market isn’t the most lucrative. Researching the different markets will help you learn more about the different ways to bet on greyhounds. 

• Young Greyhounds May Run Faster

Young greyhounds are often praised for their energy and desire to please. Both characteristics make young greyhounds a strong betting option. In addition, it is believed that young greyhounds will improve their form more quickly than older greyhounds. Older dogs may be nearing retirement. These dogs can slow down quickly and suffer from various injuries from years of training and racing. Most greyhounds are retired between the ages of three and five. Some betting sites will provide higher odds for younger dogs because they are less proven.

• Don’t be fooled by social media

There are social media accounts promising winning picks on greyhounds. Indeed, it isn’t just greyhounds that these people promise picks on. Many of these fakers will produce doctored images of winning bet slips. They will then promise to provide you with winning picks for a price. Some of these fakers claim they know someone on the inside or have an incredible programme with advanced algorithms providing winning picks. Don’t be fooled by these social media accounts. They are simply trying to make money off gullible people. Do the hard work and enjoy the winnings it provides. 

FAQ on greyhound betting